Stock Markets August 5, 2026 05:20 PM

MOEX Russia Index Climbs as Mining, Power and Oil & Gas Stocks Lead Gains

Broad advance lifts index to a one-month high while volatility eases and gold rallies

By Nina Shah
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Moscow equities closed higher Wednesday, driven by strength in mining, power and oil & gas names. The MOEX Russia Index finished the session up 1.24% at a one-month high, with the number of gainers far outstripping decliners. Volatility declined and commodity moves were mixed, with gold jumping and benchmark crude slipping.

MOEX Russia Index Climbs as Mining, Power and Oil & Gas Stocks Lead Gains
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Key Points

  • MOEX Russia Index rose 1.24% to reach a one-month high, led by gains in mining, power and oil & gas stocks.
  • Top individual performers included Surgutneftegas (MCX:SNGS) +5.22%, RusHydro (MCX:HYDR) +5.11% and Polyus (MCX:PLZL) +4.91%; Magnit (MCX:MGNT) was the largest decliner at -0.52%.
  • Market volatility fell as the RVI dropped 2.21% to 38.44; commodities diverged with Gold futures up sharply while WTI crude eased and Brent rose slightly.

Russia's stock market ended Wednesday's trading session in positive territory, buoyed by gains concentrated in the Mining, Power and Oil & Gas sectors.

At the close in Moscow, the MOEX Russia Index was up 1.24%, marking a new one-month high for the benchmark.

Among individual movers, Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX:SNGS) led the advance on the index, rising 5.22% or 0.81 points to finish at 16.32. Federal Hydro Generating Company RusHydro PJSC (MCX:HYDR) also posted strong gains, adding 5.11% or 0.02 points to end at 0.35. Miner Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) climbed 4.91% or 64.00 points to 1,367.00 in late trade.

On the downside, retail group Magnit PJSC (MCX:MGNT) was the largest decliner among quoted names, slipping 0.52% or 10.00 points to close at 1,895.00. Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) inched higher by 0.05% or 0.03 points to 56.82, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX:FEES) was up 0.11% to 0.05.

Market breadth on the Moscow Exchange was strongly positive, with 208 stocks rising versus 32 that fell; 14 issues finished unchanged.

Measures of market uncertainty eased as the Russian Volatility Index - RVI, which reflects implied volatility in MOEX Russia Index options, declined 2.21% to 38.44, registering a one-month low.

Commodity markets displayed divergent moves. Gold futures for December delivery surged 3.74% or 155.35 to $4,307.95 per troy ounce. Oil showed mixed performance: September crude oil fell 0.91% or 0.69 to $75.08 a barrel, while the October Brent contract rose 0.21% or 0.17 to $79.61 a barrel.

Currency pairs tied to the Russian market were effectively flat in the session: USD/RUB was unchanged at 81.63 and EUR/RUB held steady at 93.55, each reporting 0.00% moves. The US Dollar Index Futures declined 0.19% to 99.55.


Overall, Wednesday's session saw broad participation across sectors, with mining, power and oil & gas stocks providing the primary upward momentum that lifted the MOEX Russia Index to a recent high while implied market volatility moderated.

Risks

  • Commodity price swings - Oil and gold moved in opposite directions, creating uncertainty for energy and mining sector earnings and valuations.
  • Market breadth concentration - While overall breadth was positive, gains were concentrated in a few sectors which could expose the market to sector-specific shocks.
  • Volatility shifts - Although the RVI fell to a one-month low, changes in implied volatility could quickly reverse and impact option-related trading strategies.

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